Perspective

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So the point is there is no absolute truth, just views of the truth?

That’s one way of looking at it.

If there is absolute truth, how are we to see it other than from our perspective, as Obiwan tells Luke…

I also think James Campbell teaches us well that as humans, it seems we want to “know” the truth…we have that desire so it helps us make decisions on what to do based on what we believe is the true world around us. However, as the picture shows…we “experience” truth in a variety of ways. The truth may not change, but more important to us is how we are experiencing our reality, and that is best done by seeking truth as we experience it…rather than having a comprehensive knowledge of all things.

I have wondered if this is why the founding fathers used the phrase “pursuit of happiness”…rather than an inherent right for “happiness” itself. It is the pursuing and the experiencing that is really the purpose of what we are about here on earth.

We should have a questioning mind to see things new, even if attending the same temple ceremony repeatedly. We should be open to learning and seeing it differently. We should enjoy the experiences and be amazed at how life has enough to offer all of us, and not limit ourselves to just wanting “the correct answer” or the “one truth”.

That doesn’t mean truth is elusive or changing. But I do hope for new experiences until the day I die.

I was reflecting on the endless stream of managers I’ve reported to over the years. When we get a new one, they always make mistakes. Many try many of the same, logical, but ineffective attempts to improve our business unit I have seen over and over and over again. I have felt that my perspective is a bit like God’s in that he sees men and women interacting with their world on the same issues, over and over and over again — often making the same mistakes, learning etcetera as they interpret life from their human filters. If he was interested in simply getting physical improvement of our world, he could just step in an tell us — but no, He lets us muck around, flounder and learn the same things our forefathers learned through trial and error.

The impression I have now is that this whole experience is for us. It’s a “playground” (a serious one, with real dangers, and threats thrown in) where we can learn. It’s for our benefit. Very generous of God to give us access to all this “material” on earth to destroy, build, beautify, decimate as we learn. Much as our children learn by destroying things as they learn about the world when they are young.

Wow – that sure has been my experience also. I was over a very technical team for about a dozen years. Every new manager jumped on the same ideas not realizing the peculiar technical constraints. We even talked as a team about, “OK – time to ‘train’ another manager!” And every one within a year was saying what our team said the entire time. I left and within 3 months they made the change that every newbie manager suggested. And let me just say they fired that manager within the year (and the company culture is not one for firing very often).

At least for me that analogy seems spot on!